Lincoln Riley reveals how transfer additions have helped create buy-in at USC

When Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma for USC, the first order of business was re-tooling the roster to fit his vision for the program. Obviously, he got work on the recruiting front to find the next generation of Trojans. But for this year’s team, Riley had to hit the Transfer Portal hard. So he’s juggling a lot of newcomers in year one at Southern Cal.

Now, several guys simply followed him from Oklahoma. Namely, starting QB and No. 1 ranked transfer in the On3 rankings, Caleb Williams. So the Sooner migrants are at least familiar with Riley. But he also went and found other talented transfers from all over the country. With his biggest prize being Jordan Addison, the 2021 Biletnikoff winner out of Pitt. Bringing guys like him, transfers not from Oklahoma, along with the system has been Riley’s biggest challenge.

At a press conference this week, the Trojan head coach detailed how he and the staff have tried to get on the same page with transfers over the course of one offseason.

“I think, like all our players, we’re just getting a getting a feel for skill sets, the way he likes to run routes, what he’s good at. Certainly trying to play to those strengths and he does have a lot of strengths as a player. So it’s not like it’s crazy difficult. But to be in rhythm, you got to have a really unique understanding of a guy. And the quarterback and everybody else has to, too.

“So I think we’ve been able to to learn, just, say, how he sets up routes, where he’s best, you know. Just how we communicate with him in terms of — you got to step into a different offense. And maybe, they call things differently. I know people get into, like, they called this play this and we call this play that. That’s the easier part, right. You reprogram people quick on that.”

So a lot of challenges to combat for Addison and transfers like him. Like learning new terminology and developing chemistry with coaches and 90+ new teammates. Lincoln Riley understands how tough it can be.

“You’re really learning a lot of ways when you when you make a transfer. You go into a new place, you don’t know. You’re learning just new play calls. Like, you’re learning an entire new verbiage. And with the guy like him that wasn’t here for spring ball, you got to make that happen sooner rather than later. So I think we’re on the same page more and, you know, he’s played well for us first couple weeks.”